Notes: I do not own Harry Potter that right belongs to JKR. Thank you to those who have been reviewing it's a great help. Let me know what you think of this chapter.

Chapter 6

True friends and Small Adventures

Sun rays lit up the room, Harry sighed as he turned his face into the warm rays that cascaded over him. Slowly opening his eyes blinking the sleep away, hearing a stifled yawn, he turned his head to the left to see Fred, George, Hermione, Neville and Remus all standing near him posing very innocently.

"Good morning" he grumbled slightly confused as he slowly began to sit up, he was immediately thrown back into the bed as a massive grim slammed into him and began licking his face. Harry laughed as he grabbed onto the mutt trying to push him away.

Within seconds everyone was on him shouting "Happy Birthday!" Harry laughed as he looked at everyone, even Sirius had morphed back into his human self-laughing along with the others as they all descended upon his godson.

"Hermione, Fred, George what are you doing here? How did you get here? "He laughed as they all began to relent on their tickling and shouting. Harry leaned back against the smooth wood of his headboard as he awaited an explanation.

"I invited them, I knew you would want Hermione here, and Fred and George are your closest friends on the team, so I reached out and they heartily accepted. Molly thinks that they are just visiting for my birthday as no one knows you are here still." Neville was the first to speak smiling broadly as he sat back.

"We couldn't leave our littlest brother on his own, of course." The twins did their usual twin speak- each taking different parts of the sentence, and in a few words, both spoke simultaneously- causing Harry to smile.

"Of course," Harry laughed a little as he looked at them all. This was by far the beginning of a great birthday, and even if it wasn't great, it was going to be a good day.

Harry shooed everyone from his room and quickly showered and dressed before he joined everyone in the family den.

When he walked through the door he was greeted by more congratulatory shouts and he laughed looking around, he saw Fred, George, Hermione and Neville as well as his uncles and Lady Longbottom. He also took notice of Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, Madam Bones and her niece Susan- who was standing slightly behind her as if hiding. Harry waved at her a little, a smile gracing his face and there were a few faces he could not quite place, but he knew they were important.

He had seen them at Sirius's trial; and if his memory served him correctly the older woman- with a striking resemblance to Lady Malfoy, was Sirius's cousin. The man beside her- he could tell- was her husband and the young woman near them, he would guess, was their daughter- as she bore a resemblance to both of them. Harry nodded at them and laughed heartily when everyone surrounded him for more hugs.

"This is brilliant" he laughed after being released from the hugging and back slaps.

Everyone took a seat, and Harry made his way to sit in a chair to the side but was unceremoniously pushed into the seat at the head table by Lady Longbottom.

"The birthday boy gets the chair if you remember from Nevilles party." She snipped a smile ghosting her lips.

Over the next several hours Harry enjoyed his 15th birthday. He laughed with his friends, got to know Susan and the Tonks family as well as getting to know his professors in a setting outside of school. Turns out that Snape was quite the jokester if given time to get comfortable.

He didn't know what had happened between Sirius, Remus and the Professor but he could tell that whatever it was they were trying at least for his sake to bury it and leave it dead.

Harry was impressed by the maturity he was seeing in Sirius; because the man he had started to get to know he was very unsure if his jabs towards the stormy man were something he wanted to be a part of.

Shaking the thoughts from his head he turned his attention to the twins and Hermione. He was grateful to have them here but knew that he would have to tell them everything before they left and he was rather unsure how they would take Ron, Ginny, and their mother's betrayal.

Soon it was time to open his gifts. He had been given a new broom servicing kit from Hermione as well as a book on Ancient Magical families. Remus got him a book on Wizarding etiquette and Customes as well as a leather wand holster that strapped to the forearm, it was light weight and had anti summoning, jinx and compulsion charms woven into the materials.

Fred and George had given him a personalized box of Weasley Wizard Wheeze products to show what they had created with his substantial investment in their business. Sirius had given him a leather bomber jacket as well as a leather-bound photo album that contained far more pictures than the one Hagrid had given him 4 years prior. He paused over it, looking at each page with a soft and sad smile on his face.

"Thank you," he whispered.

Sirius sat next to him and smiled softly.

"I have had these for years, many of them are from our school days as you can see. Severus even appears in a few of them as he and your mother were close friends for quite some time. They are never far from you, your parents. I know this doesn't bring them back, but it is the best I could think of." Sirius ruffled his hair before standing and moving to sit next to Remus again.

Harry continued to go through the presents. Next was from Neville, it was an advanced book on Herbology. He had also given him a Goblin dagger. It was decorated with vines of Ivy that went from the hilt all the way to the end of the blade.

From the others he got an assortment of things like new wizard's robes, more advanced texts in Transfiguration and Arithmancy from McGonagall. She had also privately gifted him a book and journal on animagi.

"When you come back to school you and I; as well as close friends you choose shall come to my offices every Saturday for training. I would like to help you on your way to becoming the best wizard you can be." McGonagall smiled when Harry hugged her tightly.

"Thank you" he whispered.

Severus had given him a few books on advanced potions and brews. He too expressed that he would be willing to give Harry more lessons on potions with a few friends and that he would reach out via owl upon the first week of school.

Soon enough everyone had left, leaving Harry and his friends alone in the Den.

Looking at Neville he sighed before standing near the fireplace allowing the warmth of the flames to give him courage to address his friends.

Neville had already given them a heads up that there would be a serious conversation but did not give them details; apparently, he had added it to his letters to them. When they arrived, he had spoken to them about it briefly before they had woken Harry.

Harry turned to them and sat down in the chair closest to him before he began.

"I want to start by saying I have deep respect for you three. Hermione, you are the sister I dreamed of having. I love you and I need you to know that no matter what I will forever choose you before all others." He paused for a moment before taking another breath and continuing.

"Over the past week many things have come to light and much of it is good but some of it is bad. I will explain everything, but I am going to start with the documented facts that I know and have solid proof of so there are no questions." He took the papers that Neville now handed him- having procured them from seemingly out of nothing.

"The first stack is the audit that was done on my vault by the Head of the DMLE. I want to preface this by saying that I do not believe that every Weasley was involved, it is very clear who knew and who did not. I have spent many days going over these documents with Gringotts, Madam Bones, and a few others much smarter than me so that when I came to you three, I had all the facts and could come to you with everything."

He looked fully at the twins now, "It turns out that your mother has been getting money from the Potter Vaults since November of 1981. Prior to this she had never received money from my family; they knew each other but they were not close, as my parents went to school two years after yours had graduated." He sighed after a moment and shifted in his seat, handing the documents over to the twins- Fred taking them in his shaking hand.

"Digging further they also found that starting my first year, Ron began to receive funds from the Potter Vaults and then when she started school Ginny also began to receive funds. It has been discovered that since my second year, your mother was entrusted with my vault key to get money for my school supplies and has been taking more than what was needed to cover those items." He found himself getting upset by this information again and took a moment to calm his own nerves before he spoke again.

"I will put this plainly, had I been asked, I would have willingly given your parents anything they asked of me because up until this point I loved them dearly and would do anything to help them; but stealing from me is unacceptable"

Harry stopped when he saw how pale the brothers were. He could see they were taking this a little harder than he had expected.

Fred took a deep breath and looked down at the documents, he looked over each paper carefully, passing them to George and pointing to each one of Harry's points. Both seemed to get even paler as they looked at each document that proved their mother's guilt.

"Harry, I swear none of us… we would never..." George was cut off by Fred standing and walking to Harry- quickly kneeling in front of him and placing a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"We will fix this; we will tell dad." Harry reached up to place a hand over the one that was on his shoulder.

"Only your mother, sister, and brother are to blame for any of this-" He was cut off as Neville spoke now from behind him.

"Harry, with this, you know that you technically have grounds to start a blood feud with the Weasley Family." He had told Harry this before and explained what it meant and how it could affect them all.

He looked at Neville now, "No. I will not punish an entire family for the follies of one woman and her youngest children. Fred, George, Bill, Charlie, Mr. Weasley, hell even Percy is not responsible for this." This was a stance he was determined to take, "She chose to take the money likely being given to her by Dumbledore- who was in charge of my accounts through his self-declaration of becoming my magical guardian- which, by the way, my parents' wills prove he was never meant to be, in fact if their wills had been enacted as they should have been, you and I would likely have grown up as brothers." Harry spoke firmly as he turned to look back at Fred once again.

"I would never hurt you all that way. No matter what she has done money wise... she's still a good mother." He whispered his heart breaking again over the mother he had chosen having betrayed him.

Hermione was the next to move, making her way to Harry, she sat next to him and hugged him tightly to her as he choked out a sob. Fred and George came and sat next to his feet staring at the papers, still anger being the only emotion they allowed themselves to feel.

Fred glanced at George, who gave a silent nod, his expression serious. Without a word, Fred slipped quietly out of the room and made his way downstairs to the formal den. There, he found Lady Longbottom seated gracefully, sipping tea.

Pausing to gather his thoughts, Fred approached her. "Lady Longbottom, may I use your floo?" he asked politely.

She gave him a sharp look, her curiosity piqued, but nodded. Moments later, Fred was contacting his father and eldest brother. With her permission, Arthur and Bill stepped through the fireplace, their faces lined with concern.

Fred wasted no time. Quietly, he told them everything Harry had revealed.

Arthur's face darkened with anger as he listened, his hands tightening into fists. But before he could erupt, Bill stepped in, placing a firm hand on his father's chest. "Dad, you can't react like this in front of Harry," Bill said in a low, steady voice. "He's terrified of losing us—of losing the life he's built since discovering our world at eleven. He loves you. We need to be calm, for his sake."

Arthur paused, breathing deeply to compose himself. He nodded, his expression softening. "You're right," he said, though his voice trembled with suppressed fury. Turning to Lady Longbottom, he managed a polite smile. "Thank you for hosting us, Lady Longbottom. May I join the others?"

She inclined her head and led him to the family den, where Harry, Hermione, Neville, and the twins waited.

When Arthur entered, Harry's eyes darted to him, wide with fear. The boy's shoulders were hunched as if bracing for a blow.

Arthur's heart ached. Smiling warmly, he opened his arms slightly. "Come here, my boy," he said gently.

Harry hesitated only for a moment before rushing forward, burying himself in Arthur's embrace. Arthur rested his cheek on Harry's head, holding him close. "You did the right thing, Harry," he murmured. "What's yours should never have been taken without your knowledge or consent. I love you as much as any of my own. If I had known, I would have fixed this long ago."

Harry clung to him, and Arthur continued, his voice firm but kind. "Now, I'll need to see the documents you showed the boys."

Harry nodded and retrieved a stack of papers, including his emancipation documents. He explained them as best he could, with Hermione chiming in with questions and Neville filling in gaps when Harry faltered.

Arthur studied the papers with Bill by his side. As Bill looked them over, a shadow crossed his face. "I've seen these before," Bill admitted quietly. "When Gringotts uncovered this, I was interrogated to prove my innocence. If I'd known anything about it, I'd have lost my position and likely faced imprisonment. But because I'm related to the ones responsible, I couldn't speak out." His voice broke slightly, and he looked down at his hands. "I'm sorry, Harry. I tried. I asked Neville to contact you, but it feels like I failed you."

Harry reached over and touched Bill's arm. "You didn't fail me," he said firmly. "You helped me find a real home. Without you, I'd still be at the Dursleys'. I'll always be grateful for that."

Bill gave him a grateful smile, and Arthur clapped his eldest on the back. "I'm proud of you," Arthur said before turning serious again. "Molly will have to repay what was taken. And as for Ron and Ginny, I'll find out how deeply they were involved. Harry, I don't expect you to forgive them or maintain those friendships. Trust, once broken, is hard to rebuild."

Harry nodded; his face unreadable. "Thank you for understanding."

Arthur sighed. "I'll also explain this to Charlie and Percy, with your permission."

"Of course," Harry replied. "Percy will want to know the facts."

Arthur smiled faintly, then stood. "Fred, George, do you still plan to stay here tonight?"

The twins grinned and nodded eagerly.

"Good. Things will get... difficult at home, and I'd rather you weren't caught in the middle," Arthur said, resting a hand on each of their shoulders before leaving the room.

As he departed, he added, "Harry, I'll present this to Molly as if Bill came to me after his interrogation. If she thinks Bill's livelihood is at stake, she'll tread more carefully.

Once the adults were gone, the tension in the room eased. Hermione picked up the emancipation document and froze. "You're a Lord... of five houses?!" she exclaimed.

Harry laughed nervously. "Yes, though only three really matter—Gaunt, Peverell, and Potter."

Hermione gaped at him. "Harry, this changes everything. You could influence the Wizengamot!"

"I know," Harry said, his tone serious. "But I'll need help. Sirius and Lady Longbottom are teaching me, but there's so much I don't know. I want to do what's right for everyone, not just a select few."

Touched, Hermione squeezed his hand. "We'll help however we can."

The group spent the rest of the evening laughing and playing games. Fred and George teased Hermione about her blush when she caught Fred's eye, and everyone piled pillows and blankets onto the floor to create a makeshift sleeping area.

Late into the night, they fell asleep in a heap of friendship and warmth.

The following morning, they woke to Sirius sliding into their friendship pile in grim form, adding more warmth to their lazy evening.

Soon after getting showered and dressed Harry met everyone in the family den once again for breakfast, he was a little impressed about how all traces of their sleepover had vanished, shaking his head he sat between Neville and Hermione joining in the conversation.

Once they had finished breakfast Lady Longbottom corralled them all and informed them that they would be going school shopping as their letters had been delivered that morning and she preferred to get the shopping done now while they were all together rather than trying to reschedule.

Harry was glamoured yet again before they made their way to the floo and began a day that in the future Harry would describe as one of the best shopping days he had ever experienced.

For starters they began at Madam Milkins, where Harry was made to stand upon a block along with his friends as fabric after fabric was shown, cut, and organized for Lady Longbottom's order for the boys, Harry laughed as Fred and George were equally poked and prodded due to them being willowy. Hermione was carted off by Lady Longbottom with a serious, but kind look on her face as she talked to her in hushed tones.

After two hours of being dressed and undressed, poked, pinned and spelled into fabric Lady Longbottom determined that they had gotten enough and she ushered the boys and Hermione out of the shop and into the Alley, gathering her wits about her, she headed off in a direction that none, but Neville had been to before.

They followed her through the winding road and down a side alley before they stopped in front of a very cozy-looking restaurant.

"I didn't know the Alley went this way" Harry whispered leaning into Neville who smiled small at him.

"Gran likes the hidden gems, The Alley is much larger than just the front street and Knockturn, many of our youth live here because it's close to the Ministry, St. Mungo's and those that take on apprentices. Over time Magic has taken over and it expanded, making way for better buildings and more people to move in and start their lives." Neville spoke as they walked following his Gran into the restaurant holding the door for Harry and the twins. Hermione laughed and shook her head, leaning into Fred for a moment before blushing and moving away to stand near Lady Longbottom.

All Four looked completely blown away by the revelation and the beauty that was this little place hidden off the beaten path.

"Gods I love Magic" Harry whispered in awe, Hermione and the twins nodding silently next to him their mouths a gape as they took in the warm and inviting atmosphere of the place.

They were all directed to a large booth in the back next to a beautiful bay window, glittering lights were dancing all over the room with a soft warm glow, cozy chairs and blankets around, it looked like the inside of the Burrow except that everything matched and was more modern.

Harry smiled as he took his seat in between Neville and Fred as Lady Longbottom was given a chair for the opposite side of the table as the boys and Hermione shared the booth. They all looked over their menus the four boys chatting and giving each other a good ribbing as they continued with their banter. Hermione was engaging Lady Longbottom in a discussion about the Wizengamot and how it functions.

"My Dear, I think I will teach you much about our world, I will send you home with a letter asking your parents if you can come back daily for lessons, the boys will be learning the same. It will be easier to teach you all at once."

Hermione gushed and thanked her before she turned to her friends and joined in their discussion and pointed out a few flaws that could be fixed in the skiving snack boxes.

Lady Longbottom smiled small as she took in her beloved grandson as he laughed and chatted with his friends, it had been quite a long time since she had seen him in such a state and to be frank, she adored it. Harry was good for her boy; because of this she was certain.

They all shared a lovely meal, Fred and George were happy for they never got the chance to be away from their family with their own friends without being forced to take their younger siblings, so it was a nice change, they had wanted to get closer to Harry for years but Ron was always in the way carting the poor lad off.

Once they had finished eating, they all stood, thanking their waiters, making sure they knew how appreciative they were, each one leaving extra galleons on the table.

"Alright young men let's get your school shopping underway, also Neville and Harry we will be needing to go to Ollivander's for wands. Sirius made a point, and Neville needs a new one and I know for certain yours isn't working for you." She stared at Harry pointedly, who blushed and looked away from her.

Harry nodded and looked at Neville who was staring in complete disbelief of his grandmother, Harry burst into laughter as he realized that Nevilles Gran had just cracked a joke at his expense.

They all filed in well, except Hermione, who wished to head to Flourish and Blott's. The boys laughed, shaking their heads as they all muttered, "Typical," before cracking up. As they entered the shop, mutterings and growls of irritation drifted from the back. Harry could smell the faint charge of magic in the air as Mr. Ollivander worked. Fred leaned forward and rang the bell on the desk, chuckling when Mr. Ollivander let out a string of curses before emerging, a rag in his hands. He froze, staring at the group before him.

"Mr. Potter, welcome back. Misters Weasley, hello to you. And if your grandmother is anything to go by, you must be Mr. Longbottom. Four years later than you ought to be in my shop," he said with a wide smile before glancing at Lady Longbottom.

Neville blushed scarlet, glancing up at his grandmother through his eyelashes. Her expression was tight, her hands gripping her purse.

"That would have been my error in judgment, Garrick," Lady Longbottom said, her voice tinged with regret and understanding. She had made a mistake in forcing Neville to use his father's wand instead of getting one of his own, a mistake she was now ashamed to admit.

Ollivander nodded slowly, withholding comment. Whether out of understanding or discretion, none could tell.

Neville stepped forward, his voice quiet but steady. "I appreciate your willingness to help me."

Ollivander smiled kindly and nodded, stepping through the partition behind his desk. He scanned the shelves of wands, pulling down three boxes he thought might suit.

Neville watched nervously as the elder man moved about, his movements deliberate yet unhurried. Ollivander hesitated over one box before adding it to the others and returning.

"Unicorn hair, 13 inches, maple wood," Ollivander said, holding up a smaller black wand. "If you would, Mr. Longbottom, take the wand and give it a flick. Please aim at the shelves, not at anyone."

Neville nodded, carefully lifting the wand from its resting place on plush green silk. He turned toward the shelves, waiting for Harry and the twins to step aside, then gave the wand a firm flick.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then chaos erupted: wand boxes flew from the shelves, paper swirled through the air, and Ollivander cackled with delight. With a flick of his wand, the mess was righted in seconds.

"Do not worry, Mr. Longbottom. Even Mr. Potter struggled to find his first wand. Most do." Ollivander chuckled, placing the wand back in its box. He held up the second wand, resting on soft blue silk. "Cherry wood with dragon heartstring, 12 inches. Give it a good twirl."

Neville turned to the shelves again and flicked the wand. All the glass in the room shattered, and the candles extinguished, plunging them into darkness. Ollivander quickly retrieved the wand, restored the room, and shook his head.

"You are a tricky one, my dear boy. I thought one of these would suit you, but it seems you will be like Mr. Potter. Come with me."

Ollivander led Neville to the back of the workshop, Harry trailing silently behind. Neville marveled at the shelves of wand cores, some labeled with faded ink, others freshly marked.

"Mr. Potter, you will wait just outside the door. I do not want your magic interfering with young Longbottom's," Ollivander said firmly. Harry halted midstride, leaning against the doorframe with an encouraging smile.

Ollivander began pulling slabs of wood from the shelves. "As before, you will first find your wood. Close your eyes, feel your magic, and let it guide you. The wand chooses the wizard, and so do the ingredients. No wand is alike."

Neville nodded and approached the bench. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and tried to summon the magic within him. After a few moments, he huffed in frustration and opened his eyes, glancing at Ollivander with defeat.

"No, no, dear boy, this will not do. You must let the magic consume you," Ollivander said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"The way I did it, Nev, was by recalling what made magic wondrous," Harry said from the doorway. "The memories of all of you, what little I remember of my parents, the joy and love true magic brings."

Neville gave him a small, sad smile and nodded. Closing his eyes again, he took another deep breath. This time, he thought of his friends, his family, and the pride he felt for them. A warmth bubbled within him, guiding him forward. He reached out, grasping a rough, bark-covered wood. The texture bit into his fingers, but he held on, moving to the end of the table where his other hand found a smooth, supple wood.

Opening his eyes, he saw Ollivander staring at the woods with slight surprise.

"English oak, representing loyalty, strength, courage, and fidelity. A hardy wood for a strong young man. And cedar, a frighteningly sharp mind paired with unwavering resolve. This will be a wand of wonders," Ollivander said with a wide smile.

He paused, noticing the blood soaking into the oak. "It seems you are destined for this wand, Mr. Longbottom. Try to relax your grip; it may sting now that you're aware."

Neville's cheeks flushed. "S-Sorry, sir," he whispered, carefully placing the woods on the workstation.

"No apologies needed," Ollivander replied, moving to the shelves of cores. "As before, let your magic guide you. But take care; these jars are irreplaceable."

Neville nodded, blushing. Just before he closed his eyes, he felt the sting in his hand vanish and glanced back to see Harry's wand lowered, a small smile on his face. Neville took a deep breath, letting his magic guide him. A jar snapped into his hand unexpectedly. He reached lower, plucking another jar from a lower shelf.

"Mandrake root and unicorn hair," Ollivander murmured. "Mandrake root rivals phoenix feather in power, exceptional for defense and herbology. Paired with unicorn hair, it creates balance, adding healing and restorative properties. A golden duo indeed."

Ollivander took the jars and smiled. "This will take the rest of the day. Come by around dinner to collect your wand."

Harry laughed softly as Neville turned to him, wide-eyed and pink-cheeked. As they left the shop, Neville muttered, "Nutter, that one is." Harry chuckled, shaking his head as they stepped back onto Diagon Alley.

The bright bustle of Diagon Alley greeted them as they exited the shop, the chatter of witches and wizards blending with the clinking of cauldrons and the hoots of owls. Neville still looked slightly dazed, clutching his shopping list as Harry and the twins guided him toward their next stop.

"Right, next up, Madam Malkin's," George declared, steering the group toward the robe shop. "Can't have you lot looking like ragamuffins."

Madam Malkin greeted them warmly, her ever-present pin cushion perched on her wrist. As the group spread out to browse, Hermione rejoined them, her arms laden with books. "Sorry I took so long! Did Neville get his wand?" she asked brightly.

"Sure did," Harry replied. "Might've been the most dramatic wand selection I've ever seen."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Neville said with a sheepish smile, though his blush deepened.

As Madam Malkin's assistants bustled around, taking measurements and hemming robes, Fred and George entertained the group with tales of their latest product ideas for Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Hermione raised an eyebrow at a description of self-inflating dungbombs but didn't comment.

From there, they made a quick stop at Slug & Jiggers for potion ingredients. Hermione meticulously checked off items on her list while Fred and George kept themselves entertained by comparing the odd-smelling jars on the shelves.

"Did you know this one smells like old socks and cat hair?" Fred asked, holding up a jar of essence of belladonna.

"Lovely. Let's put it back before you get us thrown out," Hermione said sharply, swatting his hand.

Next, they visited Flourish and Blott's, where Hermione's excitement reached a peak. The towering shelves overflowed with new textbooks, and she wasted no time in collecting a stack that nearly obscured her face. Fred raised an eyebrow at her haul in disbelief.

"Are you building a library?" he teased.

"I'm preparing for O.W.L.s," Hermione replied crisply. "You should be too."

The last stop was Quality Quidditch Supplies, where Harry couldn't resist lingering by the display of the latest broomstick, the Nimbus 2100. Its polished handle gleamed under the shop's lights, and Harry could almost feel the wind rushing through his hair just by looking at it.

"Don't even think about it," Hermione warned, noticing the glint in his eye. "You've already got a perfectly good broom."

The group wrapped up their shopping just as the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the alley. Laden with bags and boxes, they made their way to the Leaky Cauldron for a quick dinner before Flooing home.

As they sat around the table, their chatter was lively, filled with laughter and excitement for the upcoming school year. Neville, for the first time in a long while, felt a spark of confidence. This year would be different. He had a wand that was truly his, and with friends like these, he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

One by one, the group made their way to their respective rooms, their chatter growing softer as sleepiness set in. Neville lingered for a moment in the sitting room, looking around at the remnants of their evening: an empty teapot, crumbs on the table, and the echo of laughter still ringing faintly in his ears.

His wand rested on the armrest of the chair he'd been sitting in. He picked it up and held it for a moment, feeling the smooth wood beneath his fingers. Tomorrow, they'd all be back at Hogwarts, and for the first time, Neville felt ready to face the challenges ahead.

With a small smile, he pocketed his wand and headed upstairs to his room. As he climbed into bed, the comfort of the manor around him, he felt a sense of peace he hadn't felt in a long time. This year, he thought, as sleep claimed him, would be different.